Weft-replenishing loom



June 8 1926.

R. CROMPTON ET AL WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Jan. 27. 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 1 [nven tor.

Randolph Crompion. C6056 Crompion J r.

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. R. CROMPTON ET AL WEFT REPLENI SHI NG LOOM Filed Jan. 2'7. 1923 6sheets-Sheet 2 June 8 1926. 1,587,903

R. CROMPTON T AL I WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Attorney,

June 8 1926. 1,587,903

R. CROMPTON ET AL WEFT REPLENI SHING LOOM Filed Jan. 2'7, 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 4 v in 2/ 621 0m;

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AZZorney.

June 8 1926.

R. CROMPTON ET AL WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Jan. 27, 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Znwn 2am:-

Kamdalpiz Crampion.

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m ANW June 8 1926. 1,587,903

R. CROMPTON ET AL WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Jan. 27, 192-3 6Sheets-Sheet 6 zuawa/zow E mm a i;

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.llnne EANDDLPH CHUMFTUN AND GEORGE CROMPTQN', 318 011 WORCESTER,MASSAGHUQ'ETTld.

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WJEFT-REPLENIS'HING- TLQUM.

Application filed January 27, 1923. Serial No. 615,328.

Looms of this type are shown in our 00-.

pending application Serial No. 573,357, filed July 7, 1922, now Patent-No. 1,484,812, granted February 26, 1924, and in Patent No. 739,651,issued to Randolph Crompton on September 22, 1903. The present inven-.tion involves an improvement on such looms, in that the replenishedshuttle is always picked away from the magazine end of the 100111immediately after transfer, but without inserting this pick of fillingin the goods, for no shed is formed for such. 'llhus we prevent thepossibility of the lay moving to back center carrying a shuttle whichhas been replenished but not threaded, with the consequent danger ofbreakage of the fresh filling, and at the same time the pattern of thegoods is maintained as set by the harness chain, for both the box motionchain and the harness chain are stopped for one pick.

The invention further provides means for segregating the weft threads toinactive shuttles from the thread to the outgoing weft carrier orbobbin, so that the latter thread maybe cut by the usual shuttle feelerthread cutter.

The above will all fully appear in the following.description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view infront elevation of a loom embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in efid elevation looking at the battery side of theloom.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the horizontal boxmotion.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing one of the actuating devicesappearing in Figs. 1 and 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the shuttle boxes at the magazine end of theloom, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the protective mechanism for theshuttleboxes.

Fig. 8 is a view of the actuating mechanism for the thread liftingdevices.

Fig. 9 is aside view of the parts shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View along the line 10-10 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a-detail side view of thetemple adapted for use in connectionwith our loom.

Fig. 12 is a' plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrat-' ing the various functions ofthe starting rod.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the loom.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary View showing a portion of the parts shown inFig. 2 in side elevation.

' Like reference characters refer to like parts n the difierent figures.

Referring to Flgs. 1 and 2, the loom gen erally comprises a frame 1 uponwhich is pivotally supported a lay 2 by means of the lay swords 3. Aplurality of shuttle boxes 4 are mounted at the left hand end of the lay2, and are adapted. to be moved vertically in unison by means of a boxrod 5 which is partly broken away. The boxes 4 are adapted to be raisedand lowered in response to a suitable pattern, by mechanism shown inPatent No. 837,284 to which further reference will be made. A pickerstick 6 is pivotally mounted for cooperation with the boxes 4 and isadapted to be driven in unison with a picker stick 7 mounted at theright hand end of the lay, by meansof any usual operating mechanism, notshown, as the pick- I opposite sides thereof, to which are securedflexible connections 12 and 13 which extend downwardly over pulleys 12and 13" and are connected to theshuttlebox operating mechanism which isshown in the above mentioned Patent No. 837,284, and which will behereinafter referred to. As best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the shuttlebox casting 9 is adapted to move back and forth on guide members 14 and15, carried by the lay 2, the guide member 15 being supported by abifurcated bracket .16, between the arms of which the picker stick 7 isadapted tomove. The guide members 14 and 15 are provided with grooves 14and 15 respectively, within which are received tongues 17 and 18provided' on opposite sides of the shuttle box casting 9, whereby thecasting is slidably Qlt l tee llllt supported for movement in asubstantially horizontal plane. 7 As best shownv in Figs. 1 and 2, amagazine 19 consistsof a plurality of cellsf20 arranged vertically inside by side relation, the number of cells being determined by thenumber of boxes at either end of the loom. For purposes of illustration,the cells 20 are here shown as being four in number, the loom being fourby four, that is, having four shuttle boxes at each end of the lay.

The magazine 19 is similar in construction to the magazine shown anddescribed in Patent No. 941,179, and each cell 20 is provided at itslower end with a device described in the above patent for supporting thefilling carriers or bobbins 21 therein, until a carrier having theproper kind of filling thereon is released for insertion into theshuttle by a transfer-er 22. The movement of the transferer 22 isadapted to be controlled by the filling feeler mechanism of the loomthrough a suitable starting rod 23 extending across the loom in back ofthe breast beam, which is shown in 1 as being broken away.

We show at 24 the longitudinally movable rocking rod connected to theangle lever 25, which receives its motion from the box rod 5' at theopposite end of the loom, all as shown and described in the aforesaidPatent 941,17 9. The magazine mechanism, that is, the supporting pinsfor the bobbins, is or may be as shown in the aforesaid patent, and isomitted from our drawings for the sake of clearness.

The filling feeler mechanism which we choose to employ forms no part ofour present invention, but is full shown and described in Patent No. 86,418. For this reason it is not believed necessary to show the detailsof the filling feeler mechanism herein, and for the sake of clearness wehave shown only the operating member or starting rod 23 which is adaptedto have imparted thereto a longitudinal movement upon the detection ofsubstantial exhaustion of the filling in a shuttle which is about to bedriven across the loom from one of the boxes 4 by means of the pickerstick 6. It is ob-,

their occurrence.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown an actuating device consistlngof a bracket 26 and an angle arm 27, adapted to turn on a stud 27 ruearm 27 has pivotally mounted thereon a tripping member 28, and themember 28' is provided with a weighted portion 29, excentric about itspivot pin 30, whereby the member 28 normally rests against the end-of aplunger 31 in a slightly inclined position. The plunger 31 is slidablysupported in a bearing 32, carried by the bracket 26, and is connectedat its end to a flexible member 33 passing around pulleys 33 to a lug 34extending downwardly from the starting rod 23, see Fig. 1. In the normalposition of the starting rod 23, that is, between the times that the rodis moved upon detection of filling absence, the

flexible member 33 tends to hold the plunger 31 in a retracted position,against the action of a spring 35, surrounding the plunger 31 betweenthe bearing 32 and a collar 36. Com sequently the tripping member 28remains in position against the plunger 31 so long as the starting rod23 is not actuated.

As best shown in Fig. 2, a rocker arm 37, pivotally mounted at 38, isprovided with an upwardly extending projection 39 carrying a roller 40which runs in a groove 41,

provided on a cam 42, carried on the bottom shaft 43 of the loom. Theother end of the arm 37 is provided with a reduced portion 44 having aknife edge 45 extending substantially parallel to a groove 46 providedon the member 28 below the weighted portion 29, see Fig. 4. Rotation ofthe bottom shaft- 43 is adapted to impart an oscillatory movement tg therocker arm 37, so that the knife edge 45 moves up and down in asubstantially vertical plane, just out of engagement with the trippingmember 28. The parts remain in the position shown'so long as theflexible member 33 holds the plunger 31 retracted, but upon thedetection of filling absence and the resulting movement of the startingrod 23, the plunger 31 is re leased and the spring 35 causes the plunger31 to move to the right and turn the member 28 in a counter clockwisedirection about its pivot pin 30. As the member 28 falls forward, theknife edge 45 engages in the groove 4.6 and raises the member 28together with the arm 27, thereby moving the arm in a clockwisedirection, see Fig. 1. The arm 27 pulls a cord 47 which runs overpulleys 48 up the loom side to a lever 49. Lever 49 is pivoted at 50 inan extended bearing and has a cam portion 51, which'when pulled up, isadapted to raise all the harness vibrators 52. The lifting of all theharness vibrators 52 is so timed that their gears 53 will be acted uponby the upper cylinder geain the well known fashion, and all th harnessframes will be raised for one pick. Thus a movement of the starting rod23 will raise all the warp threads of the loom for the following pick.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 15, the shaft 55 which drives the patternchain 56 extends 1 across the end of the loom and is provided memos witha ratchet wheel, 57, the teeth of which are adapted to be engaged by apawl member 58. The pawl member 58 is pivotally mounted at one end of abell crank lever 59, mounted at 60, the other end of the lever 59 beingconnected by a rod 61 to a crank pin 62 carried on the crank shaft 63 ofthe loom. The turning of the crank shaft 63 is adapted to impart anoscillatory movement to the bell crank 59, which in turn is adapted toimpart a ste'p-by-step rotative movement to the shaft 55 by theengagement of the pawl member 58 with the teeth of. the ratchet wheel57. The pawl member 58 is connected by means of a flexible member 64passing over pulleys 65 to a lug 66 on the starting rod 23, so that whenthe latteris moved, following the detection of filling absence, the pawlmember 58 will be lifted out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 57, and thereby arrest moveinent'ot" The flexible the patternchain shaft 55. member 6% is so connected to the starting rod 23, thatthe interruption in the turning of the pattern chain shaft 55 occursupon the dropping of a filling carrier in the magazine 19, as previouslydescribed. so that the shuttle boxes 8 can not be shifted following thedropping of a filling carrier into position for transferal into ashuttle. It will be noted that the pattern chain shaft 55 above referredto, actuates the usual harness and box motion vibrators.

Again referring to Figs. 1 and 2, thestartmg rod 23 is supported at itsright hand end, with its projecting end in alinement with an opening 67provided in a member 68 carried on a rod 69, which has a verticallyreciprocatory movement imparted thereto at intervals by means, not shownherein, but fully shown and described in U. '8. Patent No. 805,1.09. Themeinber 68 extends upwardly and is' connected to apivotally mountedarm-70 by means of a pin? 1 working in a slot 72. The arm 70 extendsdownwardly and is pivotally connected to a lever 73 by means of a pin 74acting in a slot 75.

The lever 73 is provided with a lug 7 6, which is in engagement with adownwardly extending portion of a latch member 77 p votally mounted onthe transferer 22 by means of the pin 7 8. The latch member 77 tends tobe maintained in a substantiallyhorizontal position by means of a spring79, so that it is in the path of movement of a hunter 8() carried by thelay 2. The latch Y7 however, is adapted to be withdrawn from the path ofmovement of the hunter 80 each time that the rod 69 is moved downwardly,the lever 73 serving to turn the latch 77 in Y a clockwise directionabout its pivot pin 78.

This occurs'each time the lay 2 moves for" ward during the operation ofthe loom, but

when the starting rod 23 is moved to the right, following the detectionof absence of filling, the projecting end ofthe rod enters the opening67 in the sleeve 68, and thereby prevents downward movement of thesleeve' .Consequently the latch 77 is not turned and locked'upon thefirst movement of the startiiig rod 2 5, the operation of the transferer22 does not occur until the next forward movement of the lay, after thebox motion has been thrown off and the harness frames raised, aspreviously described.

The starting rod 23 is further adapted to put into operation a mechanismto raise all the weft threads at the righthand end of the lay except{the thread from the active shuttle. Referring to Fig. 8, the lug 66 onthe starting rod 23 is normally in the dotted line position, with theupper end of a lever 82 resting against it below apin 83. When the rod23 is moved to the right it will carry with it the lever 82 which willpass between the pin 83 and the lug 66 into the full line- )osition. itsbest shown in Fi 9 the lever 82 is pivotally supported in bearings 84,between which is provided a cam portion 85, turnable with the lever 82.lZVhen the lever 82 is in the dotted line position of Fig. 8, theportion 85 is turned out of the path of movement of the roller 86,carried by a thread lifter 8T slidably mounted on the lay 2.' The top ofthe thread lifter 87 is nor mally flush with the racewayof the lay.

lVhen the rod @3 is moved to'the right, carrying with it the lever 82,the cam portion 85 is turned into a vertical plane, so that on the nextbackward movement of the lay the roller 86 and the lifter 87 will beraised into the dotted line position of Fig. 9, thereby lifting allthreads running to the right hand boxes. The active shuttle will thenrun beneath the lifter 87 so that a thread cutter can cut the threadfrom the active shuttle without touching the lifted threads. In order tohold the thread litter 87 in its upper position, a spring pressed latch88 is provided which engages a shout, dei- 89 provided for the lifter.When the lay moves forward, the latch 88 is disengaged from the shoulder89 by the engage' ment of a knob 90 of the latch, with a hunter llltiililtl the let back mechanism of the take-up that when it is pulled bythe starting rod 23 it will raise the holding pawl, not shown, of thelet back mechanism so as to interrupt the. movement of the take-up rollfor one pick of the loom. This movement of operating the let backmechanism of the take-up is well known in the art and does not requirefurther description herein.

The mechanism for operating the respective sets of boxes 4 and 8 is, aspreviously stated, best shown in Patent No. 837,284, but in order tomake clear the relation of the above mentioned patented mechanism to thepresent invention, reference will be had to Figs. 1 and 2, in, whichcertain essential parts of the box motion are shown. Referring first toFig. 1, the box rod 5 is received in a sleeve 5 to which is attached aflexible connection 95, and a second flexible connec tion 96 isconnected to the sleeve 5 through levers 97. The connections 95 and 96pass around pulleys 98 and across the loom to an equalizing lever 99.The lever 99 is adapted to have imparted thereto an oscillatory movementthrough a mechanism which is fully shownand described in the abovementioned Patent No. 887,284 and the connections 95 and 96 are connectedto the upper and lower ends respectively of the lever 99, so that whenthe lever is; operated under the control of the pattern chain, theconnection 95 is adapted to raise the box rod 5, while the connection 96is adapted to lower it. the box motion being entirely positive in itsaction, as set forth in the above mentioned patent.

The connection 1:2, which is attached to the lug 10 on the horizontalshuttle box castin *9, is connected to the lower end of a secondequalizing lever 100 through a cross lever 101, see Fig. 2, While theflexible connection 13, which is attached to the lug 11 of thehorizontal shuttle box casting 9, is connected to the upper end of thelever 100. The motion of the second lever 100 being similar to that ofthe first lever 99, it isobvious that the flexible connec-tions'12 and13 are adapted to shift the horizontal shuttle boxes 8 in oppositedirections under control of the pattern chain. This pattern chain ismounted on the shaft 55, so that when the pawl 58 is raised to interruptthe rotation of the shaft 55, the box motion will be ar rested, aspreviously described.

In order to insure that the shuttle boxes 8 will always line up with theraceway, after being shifted, as just described, we have provided anautomatic alining means, best shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The bottom of theshuttle box casting 9 is provided with a plurality oi downwardlyextending lugs 102, which are on the back walls of the several shuttleboxes 8. A rod 103 is slidably moantedin bearings 10zton the backside ofthe lay, and is provided at its end with an alining' member 105 whichextends up wardly in the direction of the shuttle box casting 9. Themember 105 is provided with a pair of prongs 106 which are beveled inthe direct-ion of the lugs 102, so that they are spaced apart at theirends by a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of a lug 10:2.Except at their ends, the distance between them is substantially equalto the thickness of a lug 102. A shifting arm 107, pivotally mounted onthe lay at 108, is provided at its upper end with a forked portion 109,which embraces a pin 110 projecting from the rod 103. The lower end ofthe arm 107 is reduced, as indicated at 111, and is received in a slot-112 provided in a track 113 projecting from the breast beam.

As the lay moves back and forth, the arm 107 has imparted thereto anoscillatory movement by reason of its connection to the track .113,which movement is translated into a reciprocatory movement of the rod103-. The movement of the rod 103 is so timed that the alining member105 moves to its right hand position just after the time for movement ofthe boxes, and just before the time for picking of the shuttle.Conversely the alining member moves to the left just after the time forreceiving a shuttle, and just before movement of the boxes is tocommence. In this way the shuttle boxes 8 are brought into exactalinement for reception of a shuttle or for rejection of the same.

' The outer guide member 15 is provided with a pair of binge lugs 11%,between which is pivotally mounted a U-shaped binder 115 having a slot118. A spring 117 bears upon the free end of the binder to give thenecessary binding action on the shuttles as they enter and leave theboxes. It will be noted that the binder 115 is hinged to the bracketmember 15 and does not move sidewise with the shuttle boxes 8. Theparticular form of the binder 115 forms no part of the presentinvention, but is fully set forth and described in Patent No. 739,- 851.

As best shown in Fig. 7, a diagrammatic view, a protector finger 118 isadapted to cooperate with an extension 119 provided on the binder 115,so. that when a shuttle is driven home in one of the boxes 8, themovement of the binder 115 will cause the finger 118 to be turned in acounter clockwise direction and thereby move a dagger 12g downward intothe position shown in th dotted lines. .111 case a shuttle is notreeeived in one of the boxes 8 the dagger 120 remains in the full lineposition, and on the next forward beat of the lay, operates to knock edthe loom.

We provide further, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a special temple. Thistemple for-ms no part of our present invention, but forms the subjectmatter of Patent No. 1,574,415, granted February 23, 1926, to GeorgeCrompton, Jr. However, as said temple was invented particularly for thetype of loom described herein, a brief description thereof is desirableThe temple is made with a slot 121 running some distance back from theroller 122, so that the battery thread, i. e. the thread which isattached. to the battery thread holder 123, see Fig. 1.. may run backuntil it is cut, all other threads having by that time been woven intothe goods bya repeat of the weave before reaching the cutter 124. Thecutter. 124 is actu ated from the lay 2 in the well known manner, butthere is provided an enlarged bunter 125 to actuate the arm 126 of thecutter. Fig. 11 shows the jaws 127 closed over the knife edge 128. Thecutter 124, spring 129 and other actuating parts are set next to thegoods behind the portion 130.

In order to make clear the sequence of operations of the severalmechanisms de-. scribed, and their relation to each other in theoperation of the loom, there is shown in Fig. 13 a diagrammatic view ofthe starting rod 23 removed from the loom, with the several flexiblemembers and arms attached thereto and leading to the devices which theyare adapted to respectively actuate.

With the general view of a loom shown in Fig. 1, and the diagrammaticview of Fig. 13 in mind, it is believed that the operation of the loomwill be readily understood therefroin and it will now be described.

Let it first be assumed that the loom is operating with a number ofshuttles equal to the number of vertical or horizontal shuttle boxes,and that the magazine is provided with the same number of varieties offilling carriers. As the loom operates, the filling feeler mechanismcooperating with the vertical set of shuttle boxes 4, functions in thesame manner as described in Patent No. 876,418, previously referred to.Inasmuch as the operation of this feeler mechanism is fully set forth inthe above mentioned patent, it is not believed necessary to burden thepresent application with a detailed description of this operation.Suffice it to say, for the purpose of the present invention, the fillingfeeler mechanism will not operate to shift the starting rod 23 until ashuttle in which the filling practically exhausted is ready to be pit edto the right hand side of the'loo-m the backward movement of the lay.

Upon the movement of the starting rod 23, following the detection offilling absence, as described above, letit be orne in mind that ashuttle with substar ally exhausted filling is simultaneously ineving tothe right hand side of the loom. Consequently when the shuttle arrivesin one of the horizontal (Fix shuttle boxes 8, the movementof thestarting rod 23 has already locked the sleeve 68 of the transfermechanism in position, so that the latch will be tripped and the transferer 22 operated on the next forward beatof the lay. Before thetransferer 22 is operated, however, the movement of the starting rod 23has allowed the proper bobbin to drop as described in Patent No.941,179, and the flexible member 33 has been released to raise all theharness frames, as described. The movement of the starting rod 23 alsoserves to exert a pull on the flexible member 64, thereby lifting thepawl and throwing off the box motion, and it also operates to raise thethread lifter as described.

It may be here stated that the motion of the bell crank lever is sotimed that it is not adapted to move the pattern chain until after thetime that the starting rod is adapted to be moved, in other words, thepattern chain is moved only when a shuttle is running and the boxes andharnesses are stationary, which arrangement is mostdesirable'in thistype of loom.

, Following the above occurrence, the hunter on the lay engages thelatch, thereby operating the transferer 22 and causing the fresh bobbinwhich has just been dropped .in the magazine, to be transferred to theexhausted shuttle. Just after the transfer occurs, the'shuttle', whichnow has a fresh bobbin, is picked back to the left, and since the boxeshave not moved, the shuttle is threaded in the usual manner. But no pickof filling is inserted in the goods, for all the harness frames havebeen raised, and thus .the loom weaves according to the pattern chain,for the latter having been stopped for one pick, it follows that thewefting must be stopped for one pick in order that the design may bekept.

We do not show any device, such as a shuttle feeler, to stop thetransfer in case the shuttle is not properly boxed, nor do we show anythread clamping and cutting device for severing the thread close to theshuttle, so that the shuttle eye may be cleared, as such devices are toowell known .in the art to require description herein. The thread cutterfor severing the old thread may operate in the usual manner, since wehave shown mechanism to separate the. thread to be cut from the others;and thus we have provided means to overcome the only particulardifiiculty not encountered in other weft replenishing looms. All the oerations described above having taken p ace, the loom now resumes normalopera tion until the feeler mechanism again detects filling exhaustion,whereupon the cycle of operations, as described above, will be repeated.

in order to make clear the cycle of operations just described, withreference to the occurrence of the various operations during curverepresenting increments of time, and

the vertical ordinates representing increments of movement of the laybetween its extreme positions, so that the curve reaches each extremeposition once during a complete revolution of the crank shaft. Inconsidering the curve of Fig. 14- it is to be assumed that the loom hasbeen operating normally up to the point A, when the filling feelermechanism operates just before the lay reaches the centre-of its traveland the exhausted shuttle is picked from left to right. The starting rod2? is therefore moved at the point A and sets in operation the severalinstrumentalities which bring absolute the results previously described,namel the transfer latch is held fast, a fresh obbin is dropped in themagazine, the pawl is lifted, the thread lifter cam is moved, and thevibrator'raising mechanism is set in motion. At B the shuttle withexhausted filling is picked to the right, and during the intervalrepresented by C, the box motion ceases to function as the awl 58 hasbeen lifted, and all the harness rames are raised. At D the transfer'22is operated, and a fresh bobbin is thereby inserted in the shuttle. At Ethe shuttle is icked to the left under all the warp threa s and duringthe interval represented by F the box and harness motions are resumed.The loom has now resumed normal operation.

From the foregoing then, it is apparent that we have provided by ourinvention a loom emplo ing multiple shifting shuttle boxes at eac endthereof, and a magazine containing different kinds of filling from whichany shuttle may be automatically replenished with the proper kind offilling.

It is obvious that we may employ any suitable or usual form of warp stopmotion in our loom, although many automatic filling replenishing loomshave been operated without warp stop motions. In addition, we can alsoapply to the transferring mechanism shown, any suitable or usual form ofshuttle feeler, particularly as the latch mem ber of the transferringmechanism shown is held in operative position by spring means, andconsequently a shuttle feeler could be employed to withdraw the latch.

,While we have chosen to illustrate our invention as being carried outby the use of certain specific devices, it is obvious that our inventionis not limited to the use of such instrumentalities, but is susceptibleof various modifications, and we desire therefore that only suchlimitations be imposed thereupon as may come within the scope of theappended claims.

We claim-' 1. In a pick and pick weft replenishing loom, the combinationwith a lay, shifting shuttle boxes at each end of said lay, and a weftchanging mechanism adjacent the shuttle boxes at one end of said lay, ofan operating member adapted to render the weft changing mechanismoperative to effect a normal-sequence, thus immediately threading thereplenished shuttle with new weft and weaving the goods according to theprearranged pattern.

2. In a pick and pick weft replenishing loom, the combination with alay, picker sticks at each end of said lay actuated at each backwardbeat of said lay, shifting shuttle boxes at each end of said lay, and aweft changing mechanism adjacent the shuttle boxes at one end of saidlay, of an operating member adapted to render the weft changingmechanism operative to-efi'ect a change of weft upon thepracticalexhaustion of the weft in any of the shuttles, a box motion under thecontrol of-said operating member, and a shedding mechanism also underthe control of said operatin member, movement of said operating memberto effect weft replenishment being adapted thereby to suspend said boxmotion during replenishment, and prevent the formation of a shed for thereplenished shuttle as it is picked out of and away from the shuttleboxes adjacent the weft changing mechanism.

3. In a loom, a lay, a set of shifting shuttle boxes at each endthereof, a filling carrier magazine adjacent one set of shuttle boxes,shuttles in said last named set of boxes, filling'carricrs.in saidshuttles, transferring means for effecting the insertion of afreshfilling carrier from said magazine into any of said shuttles andejecting the old filling carrier, a starting rod or other op-, eratingmember therefor, and means set in operation by said starting rod orother op erating member to segregate the thread from said old fillingcarrier from filling threads going to the other carriers in the shuttlesin said last named set of boxes.

at. In a loom, a lay, a set of shifting shutcarrier magazine adjacentsaid set of shifting shuttle boxes, shuttles in said set of boxes,filling carriers in said shuttles, transferring means for efiecting theinsertion of a freshfilling carrier from said magazine 5 into any ofsaid shuttles and ejecting the old filling carrier, a starting rod orother operating member therefor, and'means set in 0peration by saidstarting rod or other operating member to segregate the thread from saidold filling carrier from filling threads 10 r going to the othercarriers in the shuttles in said set of boxes.

RANDOLPH CROMPTON. GEORGE CROMPTON, JR.

